The Grimm Chronicles Volume 3 by Isabella Fontaine & Ken Brosky

Book Description:
200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world. Literally. Now the characters of the Grimms’ stories walk among us. With every day that passes, they grow more evil. They are the Corrupted, and only a hero can stop them.

For 18-year-old Alice Goodenough, that means taking precious time off from her summer vacation. In addition to volunteering at the local library, Alice must stop the Corrupted who are now actively hunting her down. With the help of her magic pen and her trusty rabbit friend, the world has suddenly gotten a lot more complex. The Corrupted are everywhere, and only Alice can see them for what they truly are.


This book contains 3 episodes of the critically acclaimed series: 

Episode 7: The Giant Slayer
Episode 8: Darkness Rising
Episode 9: Malevolence

My Thoughts:
I liked these books.  Alice is a Hero.  She is also a teenage fencer and has friend and boy problems just like any other teenager.  Her problem is balancing her life with stopping the Corrupted.  The Corrupted are fairy tale creatures that are in our world and evil.  She has her rabbit friend and magic pen to help her but she is seriously out numbered.
This is a cool twist on the Grimms' tales.  I like the characters used and the back story that is told about them so you aren't having to buy the fairy tales as well to know who you are reading about.  Alice was a good character and I loved the interactions with her friends and how protective she was of them.  Each story is unique and good!  I just wish I had read the 6 prior to this books in the series so I knew more of the back story for them.  
I rate this a 4/5.  They were good stories and I want to read the others :)

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via My Reading Addiction Tours).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Spider by Jennifer Estep

Book Description:

The tenth book in the bestselling and “outstanding” (Romantic Times) Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series finally reveals for the first time the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadliest of assassins.

For the first time, the origins of Gin Blanco’s career as the deadly assassin “the Spider” are revealed in full. In a story that pre-dates the other nine books in the series, Gin Blanco goes through her paces to become the most feared assassin in the Ashland.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely love this series.  Gin is back again.  This time it is a story from the past.  Dark blue roses arrive for her while she is at work and she tells Owen the story behind them.  We learn some of how Gin started out and some of the tortures she went through to become the deadly assassin The Spider.
I wasn't sure that I would like a 'back story', but I loved it.  Meeting a younger, less jaded Gin was great.  Granted she was still jaded but less 'knowledgeable' about most everything.  Fin was there and so was Fletcher.  Reading about him was awesome...how he trained Gin and treated her like a daughter.  Really there wasn't anything about the story I didn't like.  The 'bad guy' wasn't a shock but then it wasn't supposed to be to us, only to her!  Still there was plenty of the action we love from Gin though less of the elemental magic.
I rate this a 5/5.  It answered some questions for me and I loved having Fletcher there if only for a little while.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

**This book contains adult themes and language**

For Your Heart by A.L. Davroe

Book Description:
Experience THE BALLAD OF TAM LIN like you’ve never read it before…

It has been seven years since Jeanette Sauderheim followed her best friend into Carver Hall Park...and came out alone. Jeanette has never gotten over his mysterious disappearance nor has she gone back into the park. While that traumatic night still haunts her, Jeanette distracts herself by balancing her time between trying to pass Spanish, hanging out with her friends, and reading the latest manga.

But, when a promise to a friend drives her back into the park, she's forced to re-live the memories of that night. Lost and confused, Jeanette crosses paths with Tamrin, whose violent reaction to her provides yet another reason to avoid the park.

Tamrin, a knight of the Summer Court, has been sent to Earth to guard a garden of roses that hold special meaning to the queen of the Summer faeries. When his distraction at meeting Jeanette leads to her picking one of the Summer Queen’s roses, Tamrin vows to right his failure to do his duty.

However, the equivalent of one of the queen’s roses is a human heart and Tamrin’s reluctance to readily exact the sum from Jeanette sets in motion a spiral of love, betrayal, and magic that could mean damnation for them both.

My Thoughts:
I completely got into this book.  Tam makes his morning rounds and keeps an eye on all of the neighbors close to the forest in the park.  It is his job to protect the Queen's rose garden.  Jeanette lost her best friend Timmy on Halloween night 7 years ago in Carver Hall Park.  Since then she has stayed away from it like the plague.  She and her 3 best friends have complicated relationships but she is determined not to lose another friend.  When a shortcut through the park leads to her picking one of the Queen's flowers, Tam must make her pay the price for that rose.  This sets in motion a string of events that neither expected.
This is a teen romance and I loved it.  Tam is so set on being a good knight for the Queen, regardless of how she and others treat him.  Jean is the only thing that can distract him from that duty and boy does she.  Both of them were good characters.  I really liked the involvement of Jean's 3 friends and their stories that got woven in.  I have to say it was the writing style and storyline that just wouldn't let me go though.  As much as I enjoyed the characters, the author just has an addictive style that keeps your focus.  I didn't like what Tam did to survive but it wasn't who he was in reality. 
I rate this a 5/5.  The author did a great job with these characters and keeping my attention.

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Adventures of Rupert Starbright Book Spotlight

The Adventures of Rupert Starbright Book 3
About the Author:
A filmmaker and writer since childhood, Mike has directed numerous shorts, music videos, documentaries, promotional videos and two feature films (NO EXIT and TRIPTOSANE). His first novel, Milky Way Marmalade received rave reviews and was the winner of the 2003 Dream Realm Award.

He is very excited about the release of the first of his exciting new kid-lit series, RUPERT STARBRIGHT: The Door to Far-Myst.

Mike, a certified Yoga instructor, has many interests including gardening (loves growing chili peppers in his rooftop garden), playing guitar, cats (long-time volunteer at NYC’s Ollie’s Place Adoption Center), really good and really bad movies and 70s TV as well all kinds of geeky stuff. He is a dedicated MST3K fanatic. He thinks of music as his religion—especially Classic Rock.

He lives quite contently in a NYC apartment with his wife and soul mate, Suzy and their rescued kitties, Cosmo and Rupert.


You can visit Mike’s website at　www.mikedicerto.com


 About the Book:
Strange creatures begin to appear in the normally dull Graysland after Rupert Starbright digs up a mysterious bell in his backyard. Rupert sets off on his latest adventure to discover the secret of a mysterious haunted mansion and its creepy occupant and the connection to the old holiday called Winter Joy.
Title: The Adventures of Rupert Starbright Book 3: The Ghost of Winter Joy
Author: Mike DiCerto
Publisher: Zumaya Publications
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Language: English
Strange creatures begin to appear in the normally dull Graysland after Rupert Starbright digs up a mysterious bell in his backyard. Rupert sets off on his latest adventure to discover the secret of a mysterious haunted mansion and its creepy occupant and the connection to the old holiday called Winter Joy.


Book Trailer:

On Blazing Wings by L. Ron Hubbard

Book Description: 
David Duane, artist, adventurer and air ace, discovers his destiny awaiting him inside a mystery-shrouded Finnish city of golden minarets. As Duane bravely confronts and challenges his fate, the action swirls to an explosive climax amidst a fierce aerial dogfight with an unexpected toll.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this one.  David Duane is a pilot.  He is a good pilot to be more accurate.  He has flown in several wars for different countries.  Problem is he has always wanted to be an artist and his heart hasn't been completely into the wars.  Then a crash into enemy territory changes everything.
This was a good one.  It is an old story about war, but with the narration it is new again!  The sound effects and the voices are wonderful.  The storyline is good.  It wasn't surprising but you were rooting for David Duane and hoping he could work against his fate. 
I rate this a 4/5.  It is a good book, and the narration is great.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this audiobook.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Giveaway!!!

I have 2 copies of Heather Burch's Avenger in hardcover to give away! 
**All you have to do to enter to win is comment below and include your email.  (no email, no entry!)
**US only
**Winners will be randomly selected on 12/1/13

Book Description:
Sometimes the Truth Comes with a Price
Nikki knew Damon Vessler would not let his prized creation go easily---she simply never imagined the lengths he'd go to get her back into his clutches, and turn Nikki's heart toward darkness.
A Seeker at her heels, trained on her blood, Nikki flees with Raven alongside her for protection, while Mace and the other Halflings fight the battle that has erupted on earth. But even as the two boys she loves fight for her, she knows the battle will be hers to win. Determined to uncover the secrets of her past, and exactly how she fits into Vessler's twisted plans, Nikki sets off on her own, and soon discovers facing hellacious beasts is nothing compared to the decision she will need to make. One that could change not only the war, and her relationship. with Mace and Raven, but her future with the Throne.

The Return by Melissa Douthit

Book Description:
After the fall from the Maaldan cliff, Chalice is reunited with her friends on a journey that takes them to the coastline of Ielieria. Little do Vlaad and his Fierain know what is in store for them as, bit by bit, their plans are thwarted by this blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty.
The small band of rebels then travels across the Realm, preparing it for war, while Chalice herself is brewing plans of her own that may just land her in the hot seat. What will happen when she returns her father to the throne? What will happen when he finds out what she has done? And … what will happen once Dar’Maalda learns of the rebels’ location?
In the third and final novel of the trilogy, The Legend of the Raie’Chaelia, you find out. It is a dramatic finish to an epic story of action, adventure, betrayal, forgiveness and love.

My Thoughts:
I couldn't wait to start this book.  The Return picks up right where we left off in The Firelight of Maalda.  Chalice fell over the cliff after being attacked.  She learns a lot of information from an interesting source, then is reunited with her friends/family.  She has a plan in place to return her father and finally defeat Vlaad.  The problem is, he has plans of his own.  It is a fight for their lives and Chalice isn't just going to sit around being a princess, but instead is going to charge headlong into battle!
Chalice has grown and changed so much through these books that she is hardly recognizable as the young girl we first met!  She still has an opinion and is strong-willed but she has learned to channel her strengths.  I'm still in love with Jeremiah.  He is always the protector.  Her friends are still close, through everything she and the war puts them through.  I wasn't sure how this book was going to play out and for that reason, I couldn't put it down.  I really enjoyed this whole series.
I rate this a 5/5.  I loved the series and was sorry to see it end, but the author did a great job!

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Book Description:
Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.
One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.
Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this audiobook!  I got it for my kids to listen to and I think I liked it more than they did.  Carter and Sadie are siblings that look nothing alike and rarely spend any time even on the same continent.  On one of the rare occasions they do see each other, they find out a LOT more about their family than they ever thought existed.  They learned that magic is real, their father was a magician and the 'gods' they learned about are real.  Now to save their father, they have to battle with magic and save the world!
I have to say, I think the cat is my favorite character.  The two narrators did a great job with the voices and I got completely into the book.  Carter and Sadie couldn't be more different but it was their differences that made them so perfect for the story.  The author did a great job with all of the characters and settings.  The siblings don't just stay in one place but travel everywhere.  I liked the crush that Carter had, though it didn't exactly turn out like I'd expected.  The way Sadie and Carter have to learn magic and the fact that their family is a strong old powerful family was great.  I can't wait to read the next one.
I rate this a 5/5.  It was a great book. 

***I know a lot of my followers are Christians so I will say that it does talk about gods so if that offends you, this book isn't for you.  It IS fiction though and really a good story.***

The Howling Heart by April Bostic

Book Description:
Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.

Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.

Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.

My Thoughts:
This was an intriguing book.  Paige has finally reached her goal at work.  Her hard work is recognized and she gets the promotion she has been wanting...the same day, she catches her boyfriend cheating on her and her father dies.  Her father leaves her a cabin in the woods of Colorado.  A series of strange events and encounters send her running for home but a car accident halts that route and she is drug into a world she didn't have a clue existed.
Paige was a unique character.  She was so set and determined to have her life the way she wanted it, but then Riley is set to change her mind.  I liked the world the author was trying to create and how close the members of the pack were.  I did not feel a connection to Riley much at all, he did get on my nerves.  Paige had sudden changes of 'heart' that caught me off guard but she was still a good character.  I really liked Riley's sister, she was probably my favorite. 
I rate this a 3/5.  It was an original book.

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

**This book contains adult themes/language**

Lila: The Sign of the Elven Queen by Mark J. Grant

Book Description:
Lila always knew that her big eyes made her special, but she never realized how special. She can see her invisible pet dog, Fluffy, who introduces Lila and her family to a kingdom of invisible people. Their lives are changed forever when Lila learns she's a real princess.

My Thoughts:
This was a cute book.  Lila has always wanted a dog.  There are problems with her having one so she comes up with a brilliant idea...she will have an invisible dog!  Fluffy is the perfect compromise.  He is an invisible dog who introduces Lila and her family to a whole race of people who are invisible, only to find out that Lila is a princess.
Adorable characters, good plot and original concept.  I really enjoyed Lila as did my 5 year old.  Everything from the invisible dog to the invisible people kept him intrigued and he wanted more.  The author does a good job with imagery, especially to catch the attention of a child.
I rate this a 4/5.  For ages 6-12 probably the best and I am looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via PumpUpYourBook).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.